Venezuela Quake Toll Nears 1,500 Amid Desperate Rescue Efforts

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela's north-central region last Wednesday, June 24, has tragically climbed to at least 1,450, with over 3,150 injured and a staggering 68,900 people reported missing, predominantly in the devastated state of La Guaira. Five days after the massive Mw 7.2 foreshock and Mw 7.5 mainshock, international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are racing against the clock, joining local efforts to find any remaining survivors buried beneath thousands of collapsed structures. These catastrophic quakes have exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, displacing more than 12,700 people and inflicting an estimated $6.7 billion in physical damage, equivalent to about 6% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Venezuelan government, led by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, has declared a state of emergency, but public frustration is mounting over the perceived inadequacy of the initial response as cries for help continue to echo from the rubble. Foreign aid, coordinated by agencies like the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is arriving from at least 27 countries, offering a lifeline of specialists, search dogs, and vital supplies. As aftershocks persist, further complicating rescue operations, the focus is slowly shifting towards long-term recovery amid widespread infrastructure damage, including the vital Simón Bolívar International Airport. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stressed that these are 'critical hours' for rescues and establishing camps for the newly displaced. The international community's sustained support will be crucial as Venezuela confronts not just the immediate aftermath, but the immense challenge of rebuilding lives and a shattered economy.